NEPTUNE - Association of Maritime Research Institutes

<BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff" TEXT="#02007f" LINK="#013e7e" ALINK="#6bff1e" VLINK="#01004c"> <TABLE WIDTH="450" BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="2" CELLPADDING="0"> <TR> <TD> <P><IMG SRC="pixel/black.gif" WIDTH=10 HEIGHT=10 BORDER=0 ALIGN=bottom> </TD></TR> <TR> <TH WIDTH="27" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="37"><A HREF="marntua.html"><IMG SRC="pixel/minischiff.gif" BORDER="0" WIDTH="23" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="BOTTOM" NATURALSIZEFLAG="3"></A></TH> <TD WIDTH="423" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><HR></TD></TR> <TR> <TD VALIGN="TOP" ></TD> <TD VALIGN="TOP"> <P><H3>Who is NEPTUNE? </H3> </P> <P>NEPTUNE is a non profit making association of maritime research institutes, universities and politechnics. The central office is located in Brussels. Regional offices will be set up in other member states of the European Union. </P> <P>Objectives The main aim for NEPTUNE is the establishing of an "open" European network of universities and research institutes engaged in research, training and education for waterborne (maritime and inland navigation) transport. This network should constitute an European knowledge base to support the improvement of waterborne transport with a view to education/training and support especially to SME`s (small and medium sized enterprises). Waterborne transport requires considerable support to increase its performance up to the quality of service that exists on other transport sectors, on road, rail or air transport. One of the pillars for this support is knowledge, another pillar is the dissemination and implementation of knowledge (R&D) results. NEPTUNE will help to bridge the gap between Research & Development (R&D) and the use of its results in practice. The association will also support and provide added value to the Commission`s activities on R&D and on the implementation of results. NEPTUNE will be a platform for the cooperation of large and small research institutes and universities as well as for an organized knowledge transfer between research and users or industry. Many institutes, universities and polytechnics are performing (R&D) in similar or same areas. NEPTUNE will support the avoidance of multiple work on same tasks or problems. Therefore activities to be undertaken by the association are e.g.: <UL> <LI>exchange of information concerning research ventures and research results between the members <LI>knowledge transfer between the members and potential users of research results <LI>education and training of users <LI>advise regarding the potential aims and tasks of European maritme research <LI>support of concerted actions and task forces aiming coordination of research and development <LI>cooperation in the implementation of research and development projects </UL> </P> <P>For the support of these activities NEPTUNE will establish and use an Information (Telecooperation) Network. </P> <P>Structure of Research and Development activities </P> <P>The scope of activities includes three main areas: <UL> <LI>Human Resources <LI>Economics and Logistics <LI>New Technologies </UL> </P> <P>For each of these areas a Working Party has been established, which is coordinated by a Chairman. </P> </TD></TR> <TR> <TD VALIGN="BOTTOM" ALIGN="CENTER"><A HREF="structure.html"><IMG SRC="pixel/miniwelle.gif" BORDER="0" WIDTH="20" HEIGHT="17" ALIGN="BOTTOM" NATURALSIZEFLAG="3"></A></TD> <TD></TD></TR> </TABLE> </BODY>